Launcher Issues Troubleshooting

[laywoman]

We noticed that some of you are having issues with the launcher and launching the game in general. Because of that we gathered a couple of tips that should allow you to bypass that issue:

Option 1. The launcher can't read the settings file.

The launcher should eventually update itself and work, but the problem is that it is done behind the error popup.

Another symptom of this is that settings are not updated correctly and always reset.

There are 3 possible workarounds:

• Wait for the launcher to update.
• Run the launcher-installer-windows.msi file in \SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Victoria 3\launcher
• Uninstall the Paradox Launcher v2, and run the game through Steam.

Option 2. You may be having issues with a virus scanner/missing admin rights

This can lead to faulty or incomplete installations.
The solution might be to either manually install the launcher from its folder again, or to uninstall & reinstall it.

Option 3. Your CPU does not support AVX.

It is worth noting that AVX is specifically required by the game. If your CPU does not support AVX, then you do not have the minimum requirements to run the game.

Other potential solutions

Solution 1

• Exit the Steam app entirely
• Uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.
• Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/

• To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.
• Run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user
• Run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

Solution 2
Check out the general support document circumventing Launcher issues for Paradox titles in general: https://support.paradoxplaza.com/hc/en-us/articles/360010684620-The-Paradox-Launcher-v2-doesn-t-work

 

[Marmouzai]

Sorry but it still doesn’t work

 

[Dunnlang]

These steps did not work for me either. I have updated my original ticket with the logs requested by the help documents in this thread. I cannot link to that thread, because the forum is preventing me from including links to this very forum.

I cannot link to my thread. The forum is preventing me from including links to this very forum. My thread title is: "Victoria III - Game Fails to Launch (Linux)"

 

[Sarcastacles]

These steps do not work for me on Linux Ubuntu 22.04 LTS with a Ryzen 7 3750H CPU (supports AVX). I load the launcher properly, see version 1.0.3 (Vanilla) but the game closes after attempting to launch with no message. My screen goes blank and I see my cursor, but after 3-5 seconds everything closes and I'm back to the Steam window. I have no mods installed, and I have deleted the launcher from the several locations required and reinstalled. I have verified my installation through Steam with no problems reported.

 

[djconklin]

>If your CPU does not support AVX,

How do I find that?

 

[Sarcastacles]

>If your CPU does not support AVX,

How do I find that?

I was able to find mine on openbenchmarking dot org

 

[misterbean]

I have intel core i7-4720HQ, on windows 8. Does it support AVX?

 

[Sarcastacles]

I have intel core i7-4720HQ, on windows 8. Does it support AVX?

The website I listed earlier says it does. AVX and AVX 2

 

[Sarcastacles]

Found a solution to my issue on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. Sounds like a graphics problem of some sort and not a launcher related issue.


From user cpehle in another thread:

Here is a workaround, which at least lets you play the game: Open a terminal and enter

export VK_ICD_FILENAMES=/usr/share/vulkan/icd.d/nvidia_icd.json

this selects the NVidia vulkan driver in all binaries started from this terminal to be the one by NVIDIA.
You can then launch Victoria 3 in this terminal by a command similar to


$PATH_TO_STEAMLIBRARY/SteamLibrary/steamapps/common/Victoria\ 3/binaries/victoria3

 

[misterbean]

The website I listed earlier says it does. AVX and AVX 2

Thank you. That rules out one possible culprit. That leaves me with, I think, either my windows 8 or just not enough graphic power or obsolete drivers (C++ was last updated some time in 2014).

edited to add: I'm running a GeForce GTX950M. So I think that should be enough for the minimum requirements. Right?

edit 2: I followed the steps provided in the OP. Steam made a new launcher. I press play in the Steam window, the launcher appears, I press play again, the first loading screen appears and the game crashes.

edit 3: sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm hoping that this might help other players with similar issues. If the mods want to stop, just tell me. Anyway, I now have an icon on my screen for a cross-platform launcher, which has CK3, Stellaris, Battletech, Surviving Mars, I:R. No HOI4, EU3 or Vicky 3.

 

[Rockbullet]

I literally tried all the steps, it still dosen't work

 

[Richelieu.]

Option 1. The launcher can't read the settings file.

The launcher should eventually update itself and work, but the problem is that it is done behind the error popup.

Another symptom of this is that settings are not updated correctly and always reset.

There are 3 possible workarounds:

• Wait for the launcher to update.
• Run the launcher-installer-windows.msi file in \SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Victoria 3\launcher
• Uninstall the Paradox Launcher v2, and run the game through Steam.

Hi, when I uninstall the Paradox Launcher v2 and start the game throug Steam (from Steam directly or desktop V3 shortcut) the process of Paradox Launcher v2 installation is always initiated automatically. So, literally it is not possible to run the game without Paradox Launcher v2 installed.

Option 3. Your CPU does not support AVX.

It is worth noting that AVX is specifically required by the game. If your CPU does not support AVX, then you do not have the minimum requirements to run the game.

This checked, AVX is supported, also AVX2.

 

[jordibhoy2009]

Hi, when I uninstall the Paradox Launcher v2 and start the game throug Steam (from Steam directly or desktop V3 shortcut) the process of Paradox Launcher v2 installation is always initiated automatically. So, literally it is not possible to run the game without Paradox Launcher v2 installed.



This checked, AVX is supported, also AVX2.

Same here

 

[Richelieu.]

So, here is the remedy for language/setting change problem in my case. Seems like the problem really is due to non-latin username characters on the path C:\Users\<USERNAME>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3 to the pdx_settings.json file.
I just created new user account for Windows 10 with latin-only characters name and this fixed the issue (note, you can create normal PC-account, not Microsoft one, its simplier, just carefully read the options). Thereafter, I switched accounts through Windows start menu and run the game. All settings can be now perfectly changed and saved. If you like to go back to your normal account with your new settings you will have to copy pdx_settings.json file to some safe place, switch accounts again and make file properties "read only". Then, paste it to the C:\Users\<USERNAME>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3 folder.
All of this seems rather complicated, yes, but no other workarounds actually work for me. New account can be easly deleted latter.

patch when?)

 

[hide]

So, here is the remedy for language/setting change problem in my case. Seems like the problem really is due to non-latin username characters on the path C:\Users\<USERNAME>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3 to the pdx_settings.json file.
I just created new user account for Windows 10 with latin-only characters name and this fixed the issue (note, you can create normal PC-account, not Microsoft one, its simplier, just carefully read the options). Thereafter, I switched accounts through Windows start menu and run the game. All settings can be now perfectly changed and saved. If you like to go back to your normal account with your new settings you will have to copy pdx_settings.json file to some safe place, switch accounts again and make file properties "read only". Then, paste it to the C:\Users\<USERNAME>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3 folder.
All of this seems rather complicated, yes, but no other workarounds actually work for me. New account can be easly deleted latter.

patch when?)

This is critical for me because using Microsoft's one-drive app.
App force me to use non-latin Mydocument folder name, and edit registry files.

 

[SilenZer]

Hello guys, i have still problems with the launcher update launcher-v2.2022.12. launcher-v2.2022.08 works fine until yesterday but, the launcher does updates everytime after restarting. After this, the launcher isn't able to open.

Then i have to delete the following directories and start HoI or Vic3 again

"C:\Users\Silenzer\AppData\Local\Paradox Interactive"
"C:\Users\Silenzer\AppData\Roaming\Paradox Interactive"
"C:\Users\Silenzer\AppData\Roaming\paradox-launcher-v2"
"C:\Users\Silenzer\AppData\Local\Programs\Paradox Interactive"

But then comes the next problem: "Database error"

 

[namretsbol]

Still not working for me. When can we expect a launcher patch?

 

[Dunnlang]

This is still not working for me as well. I can run it on the much less capable Steam Deck, but not my laptop.

 

[Laucian Nailor]

Just done a clean Win11 install on a brand new build PC and after installing Steam and both Vic3 and CK3, I'm seeing exactly the same issues with both. Launcher fails to run and simply hangs with the grey box and a circle spinning round the paradox icon.

Full write permissions granted and its being run on an admin level account. VERY frustrating.

 

[anesko]

This is extremely frustrating. On windows 8 the Launcher was appearing, but I could not make a new Victoria 3 mod (it was giving error message). On Linux, same thing. Now I replaced the windows 8 with windows 10 (all of this on the same computer) and the launcher is not appearing at all.

Now I don't know if my computer supports AVX or no, it's an old computer, but I'm not trying to PLAY the game on it, I just need the launcher to appear so I can upload a mod to steam. I do my playing and testing of the mod on GeForce now. So not being able to upload the mod because my computer cannot run the game, while I'm not even trying to run the game on said computer, is extremely bizarre. If AVX is the issue, why did the launcher appear on win 8 and on Linux, but not on win 10?

On this fresh installation of win 10 I tried everything. Uninstalling/reinstalling the game, running Steam as admin, uninstalling/reinstalling/repairing the launcher, deleting relevant launcher files before reinstalling it, etc. Nothing works.

Incredible how you can make such complex games, but you cannot do a decent job of making a game launcher. Now I need to buy a new PC just so I can upload a mod on Steam...

PS. I'm sure if Musk were to buy Paradox, the Launcher would not only work, it would prob start launching rockets too...